Coin-operated control circuit for selectively energizing a plurality of machines

ABSTRACT

A coin-operated control circuit is provided for selectively actuating a selected one of a plurality of starting coils for a group of laundry machines or other devices for each actuation of a coin-operated switch. The control circuit includes means for preventing actuation of more than one machine or load device for a single actuation of the coin controlled switch. In one embodiment said means includes capacitor means for storing only enough energy to energize one of said starting coils and means for discharging said capacitor through the selected starting coil. Fail-safe means may be further provided for removing the residual energy in the capacitor after said discharge. In a second embodiment a plurality of selector switch means, one for each starting coil, are so connected that upon actuation of more than one of said switch means at any given time an open circuit will result between the power supply and the starting coils, thus preventing the energization of more than one starting coil for a single actuation of the coin-operated switch.

E/nite Hiortdahl States Patent Feb. 4, 1975 COIN-OPERATED CONTROLCIRCUIT FORv SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING A PLURALITY 0F MACHINES [76]Inventor:

Davidsonville, Md. 21035 Filed: May 3, 1973 Appl. No.2 356,776

52 US. Cl. 320/1, 194/97 R, 307/38,

307/94 rm. Cl. H0lh 47/00 Field of Search 307/109, 244, 246, 38,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1923 Wilcke 307/38 8/1956Andrews... 2/1961 Ebert 1/1973 Constable et al. 3/1973 McKeown et a1320/1 Primary Examiner-Stuart N. Hecker Attorney, Agent, orFirm1-Ierbert M. Birch; Terrell C. Birch; Anthony L. Birch John C.Hiortdahl, Rt. 1, Box 185A,

[57] ABSTRACT A coin-operated control circuit is provided forselectively actuating a selected one of a plurality of starting coilsfor a group of laundry machines or other devices for each actuation of acoin-operated switch. The control circuit includes means for preventingactuation of more than one machine or load device for a single actuationof the coin controlled switch. In one embodiment said means includescapacitor means for storing only enough energy to energize one of saidstarting coils and means for discharging said capacitor through theselected starting coil. Fail-safe means may be further provided forremoving the residual energy in the capacitor after said discharge. In asecond embodi- 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Tl l PATENTED 4W5 I SHEET 2BF 2 COIN-OPERATED CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING APLURALITY OF MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of InventionThe present invention relates to coin-operated control means forselectively energizing a selected relay in a group of relays. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to means for preventing theenergization of more than one coin-operated machine in a group ofmachines for a single actuation of a coin-operated power control switch.

2. Description of Prior Art Laundry machines are frequently installed inlarge groups in apartment houses or other public facilities that areoperated by coin-operated power switches. In large establishments it isoften desirable to provide a central control console including a coinslot, a coin metering device, a coin vault, and a selector switch forselectively energizing one of said plurality of machines. Devices ofthis type are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,221,862 to Taylor issued Dec.7, I965.

In devices of the type described it is desirable to provide means forpreventing the energization of more than one of said laundry machines bythe rapid manipulation of a selector switch or tampering with theselector switch in some other manner. In Taylor US. Pat. No. 3,221,862this means comprises an electromechanical latching means, which locksthe selector switch after the energization of any given machine tothereby prevent the actuation of more than one machine upon deposit of asingle coin or coins.

Electromechanical latching or interlocking means of course suffer fromthe disadvantages that they can be broken or jammed by one trying toillegally operate the selector mechanism. Moreover, the mechanicalmoving parts are inherently subject to wear and probable failure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION- Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide means for preventing the energization of more thanone of a plurality of machines upon deposit of a single coin or coinswhich excludes the use of mechanical interlocking parts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means forselectively discharging a capacitor through a selected relay in a groupof relays, said capacitor storing only enough energy to energize theselected one of said relays.

It is another object of the present invention to provide fail-safe meansfor removing the residual charge, if any, in said capacitor betweendischarges thereof through said selected relays.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novelselector switch array including a plurality of individually actuatedswitches and means for opening the power circuit in response to theactuatio of more than one of said switches.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide meansfor preventing the energization of more than one coin-operated machineupon deposit of a single coin orcoins which is reliable and efficient inits operation and is substantially tamper proof.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a startingcircuit which does not require a multitude of expensive relays orholding coils such as used in starting circuits known heretofore.

The objects of the present invention are fulfilled by providing acentral control console for operating a plurality of machines, saidconsole including a coin slot, a coin metering device, a coin-operatedswitch, a coin receptacle, a power supply, and selector switch means forselectively coupling said power supply to the starting coil of aselected one of said plurality of machines.

The power supply includes an A. C. step-down transformer coupled to aconventional 1 10 volt wall receptacle. The transformer is coupledthrough a resistor and diode to a capacitor to facilitate the chargingof said capacitor with a DC. voltage. The capacitor is selectivelydischarged through a selected starting coil to energize a selected oneof said plurality of machines.

In a first embodiment the control circuit of the present inventioncomprises: selector switch means for selectively energizing the startingcoil ofa single machine in a group of machines; capacitor storage meansin circuit with said selector switch means and said starting coils forstoring a predetermined amount of energy sufficient to energize only oneselected starting coil; a

' voltage supply including an A.C. power source and a diode rectifierfor charging said capacitor to said predetermined energy;, andcoin-operated switch means for selectively connecting said capacitor tosaid voltage I supply or said selector switch means.

In the first embodiment of the present invention the selector switchmeans includes a plurality of stationary terminals connected to therespective starting coils and a movable contact arm which selectivelyconnects said terminals to said capacitor means to provide a dischargepath to ground through the selected starting coils. To make the devicefail-safe a plurality of wipe out terminals may be added, which aredirectly connected to ground and are interspaced between the switchterminals. These wipe out contacts facilitate the removal of anyresidual charge in the capacitor after each discharge. This residualcharge may result from spurious signals in the A.C. supply which chargethe capacitor slightly above the desired level or from aa incompletedischarge of the capacitor through a selected starting coil.

In a second embodiment of the present invention the selector switchmeans comprises a plurality of switches in an array, one for eachstarting coil, said switches being interconnected in such a manner thatthe actuation of more than one will open the circuit to the power supplyto prevent energization of the starting coils.

The present invention is described for use as a central control meansfor a coin-operated console for a plurality of laundry or cleaningmachines. However, it should be understood that the control circuit ofthe present invention may be used to control the selective energizationof any load containing a group of relays without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

The objects of the present invention and the attendant advantagesthereof will become more fully apparent with reference to the followingdescription of the drawings wherein like numerals refer to the likeparts and wherein:

FIG. I is a circuit diagram illustrating a first embodiment of thecontrol means of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a second embodiment of thecontrol means of the present invention.

Referring in detail to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a first embodiment ofa control circuit of the present invention including a charging circuitfor a capacitor C1 and a selective discharging circuit for selectivelyenergizing a plurality of relays or starting coils RA, RB, RC, and 'RD.It should be understood that the coils may be replaced by semiconductorswitches such as silicon controlled rectifiers without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

The charging circuit of FIG. 1 includes a pair of AC input lines, AC1and AC2, coupled to the primary a step down transformer T1. TransformerTl reduces the line voltage to a value commensurate with the desiredvoltage to be applied to capacitor C1. A resistor R1 in series with adiode D1 are connected to the secondary of transformer T1 in the linecontaining capacitor C1. A coin-operated switch SW2 is connected inseries between diode D1 and capacitor C1. Thus with switch SW2 connectedin its normal position to terminal A2 the-D.C. voltage on line DClgenerated by rectifier diode D1 will provide a charging path throughcapacitor C1 to ground.

Coin-operated switch SW2 may be any suitable type known in the art. Forexample, switch SW2 could either be actuated by a coin slide or by theforce of gravity in response to a coin dropped through a slot.

The discharging circuit for capacitor C1 includes a rotary selectorswitch SW1 having a rotary contact arm CA and a plurality of stationaryterminals TA, TB, TC, and TD connected to starting coils RA, RB, RC, andRD, respectively. Coin-operated switch SW2, when connected to terminalB2, and push button switch SW3, when closed, provide a series dischargepath to ground for capacitor C1 through any of the stationary terminalsTA, TB, TC, TD.

The value of capacitor C1 is chosen so that it will store only enoughenergy to energize a single starting coil for each actuation of switchSW2. Capacitor Cl may be a variable capacitor to facilitate fineadjustments of the capacitance to vary the energy storage capabilitycommensurate with varying lengths of cable between the console and themachines to be controlled.

Variable resistors means R2, R3, R4, R5 may be provided in parallel withstarting coils RA, RB, RC, RD. These resistors may be adjusted inaccordance with the selected capacitance of capacitor C1 tofurther'assure that all of the energy in capacitor C1 is dissipated byeach discharge following actuation of coin-operated switch SW2.

Aplurality of wipe-out contacts WA, WB, WC, and WD may be providedbetween the stationary terminals of switch SW1 to provide a direct pathto ground line DC2 for capacitor C1 when engaged by contact arm CA. Thewipe-out contacts function to discharge any residual charge in capacitorC1 to ground line DC2 after the energization of selected coils. Itshould be understood that the wipe-out contacts can be eliminatedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. Thewipe-out contacts are merely provided as a fail-safe means in the eventthat enough residual charge should remain in capacitor C1 to energize asecond relay coil. Under normal circumstances capacitor C1 would onlyhave enough energy to energize one relay coil.

Referring to the operation of the control circuit of FIG. 1, let usassume for the purpose of an example that each of the relays RA, RB, RC,RD are starting coils for a plurality of laundry machines. An operatoror customer first deposits one or more coins in the coin slot whichmoves the switch arm of SW2 into contact with terminal A2 and capacitorC1 is charged to a predetermined voltage. Coin-operated switch SW2 isthen reconnected to terminal B2. The operator orcustomer then selects amachine which is not in use by moving contact arm CA on selector switchSW1 to a selector terminal such as TA. Push button switch SW3 is thendepressed to close a circuit from capacitor C1 through ing coil and aresidual charge will remain in capacitor after the energization of theselected coil. The wipe-out contacts alleviate this problem. Forexample, if a residual charge remains in capacitor C1 after coil RA isenergized and a dishonest operator makes an attempt to also energizecoil RB by rapidly turning contact arm CA without depositing more coins,as wiper contact CA is moved toward terminal TB it engages wipe-outcontact 'WA and the residual charge in capacitor C1 is discharged toground. Thus, only. one starting coil can be energized for eachactuation of coin-operated switch SW2. I

Referring in detail to FIG. 2 there is illustrated a second embodimentof a control circuit which precludes the operation of more than onemachine for a single actuation of coin-operated switch SW2. As in theembodiment of FIG. 1, the control circuit of FIG. 2 includes a capacitorC1 and a similar charging circuit therefor connected in substantiallythe same manner. However, a plurality of identical push-buttondoublepole double-throw switches SWA, SWB, SWC, SWD are provided inplace of selector switch SW1 of FIG. 1. v The push-button switches arenormally biased in the positions shown and the terminals thereof areinterconnected in such a manner that the power from line DC3 is cut offif more than one of push-button switches SWA, SWB, SWC, SWD is depressedat any one time. This prohibits the energization of more than onestarting coil for a single actuation of coinoperated switch Each ofswitches SWA, SWB, SWC, SWD includes a pair of ganged contact armsdesignated CA1, CA2,; CB1, C32,; CCl, CC2,; and CD1, CD2, respectively.Each contact arm is adapted to selectively engage two of the fourterminals of the associated switch. For example, switch SWA has twocontact arms CA1, CA2. Contact arm CA1 is adapted to engage terminal SAlin its normal position and terminal SA2 in its depressed position. In alike manner contact arm CA2 will engage terminal SA3 in its normalposition and terminal 8A4 in the depressed position. The other switchesSWB,

desired to energize starting coil RA a coin is deposited to actuateswitch SW2 to position B2 and push-button SWA is depressed. As long asno other push-button switches are depressed, a discharge path fromcapacitor C1 to ground is developed by way of line DC3, contact arm CAl,terminal SA2, terminal SDl, contact arm CD1, terminal SCl, contact armCCl, terminal 881, contact arm CB1, contact arm CA2, terminal SA4, andstarting coil RA. Thus starting coil RA is energized as capacitor C1discharges. As one can readily see if any of switches SWB, SWC, SWD arealso depressed the discharge path from line DC3 through starting coil RAwould be open circuited. In fact the actuation of any of the respectivestarting coils requires that all of the other push-button switches notdirectly connected thereto remain in the normal undepressed position.Accordingly, it is impossible to actuate any starting coil if more thanone of switches SWA, SWB, SWC, and SWD are depressed.

It should be understood that the circuits of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be usedto actuate more or less than four starting coils or load devices. Therespective circuits are illustrated with four coils only by way ofexample.

The present invention may be modified as would occur to one of ordinaryskill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for energizing a selected load means in a group of loadmeans comprising:

a. capacitor means for storing an amount of electrical energysubstantially equal to the energy necessary to energize a singleselected load means;

b. first selector switch means for selectively discharging saidcapacitor means through said selected load means, said switch meansincluding a first set of terminals connected to the respective loadmeans of said group, and movable contact means for selectively engaginga selected one of said terminals in said first set, said contact meansbeing selectively connected in series with said capacitor means;

c. voltage generating means for supplying said capacitor means with saidelectrical energy; and

d. a second set of terminals interspaced between each of said first setof terminals, said second set of terminals being directly connected toground, whereby any residual energy in said capacitor remaining afterthe energization of a selected load means will be discharged to groundwhen said movable contact engages any of said second set of terminals 2.In a control system for energizing a single selected load means in agroup of load means in response to the receipt of a predetermined numberof coins of a predetermined value including means for preventing theenergization of more than one selected load means in response to thereceipt of only said predetermined number of coins the improvementcomprising:

a. capacitor means for storing an amount of electrical energysubstantially equal to the energy necessary to energize a singleselected load means;

b. first selector switch means for selectively discharging saidcapacitor means through said selected load means to thereby energizesaid selected means;

c. voltage-generating means for supplying said capacitor means with saidelectrical energy;

d. coin-operated switch means which normally connects said voltagegenerating means to said capacitor means and upon actuation in responseto receipt of said predetermined number of coins connects said capacitormeans to said first selector switch means; and

e. means for selectively adjusting the resistance of said selective loadmeans to facilitate the complete discharge of energy stored in saidcapacitor means by a single selected load means.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein there is further provided startswitch means connected in series between said first selector switchmeans and said coinoperated switch means.

4. The control system of claim 2 wherein said group of load meanscomprises starting coils for a group of automatic laundry machines.

5. In a control system for energizing a single selected load means in agroup of load means in response to the receipt ofa predetermined numberof coins of a predetermined value including means for preventing theenergization of more than one selected load means in response to thereceipt of only said predetermined number of coins the improvementcomprising:

a. capacitor means for storing an amount of electrical energysubstantially equal to the energy necessary to energize a singleselected load means;

b. first selector switch means for selectively discharging saidcapacitor means through said selected load means, said switch meansincluding a first set of terminals connected to the respective loadmeans of said group, and movable contact means for selectively engaginga selected one of said terminals in said first set, said contact meansbeing selectively connected in series with said capacitor means;

c. voltage generating means for supplying said capacitormeans with saidelectrical energy;

d. a second set of terminals interspaced between each of said first setof terminals, said second set of terminals being directly connected toground, whereby any residual energy in said capacitor remaining afterthe energization of a selected load means will be discharged to groundwhen said movable contact engages any of said second set of terminals;and

e. coin-operated switch means which normally connects said voltagegenerating means to said capacitor means and upon actuation in responseto receipt of said predetermined number of coins connects said capacitormeans to said first selector switch means.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein there is further provided startswitch means connected in series I between said selector switch meansand said coinof load means comprises starting coils for a group ofautomatic laundry machines.

1. A system for energizing a selected load means in a group of loadmeans comprising: a. capacitor means for storing an amount of electricalenergy substantially equal to the energy necessary to energize a singleselected load means; b. first selector switch means for selectivelydischarging said capacitor means through said selected load means, saidswitch means including a first set of terminals connected to therespective load means of said group, and movable contact means forselectively engaging a selected one of said terminals in said first set,said contact means being selectively connected in series with saidcapacitor means; c. voltage generating means for supplying saidcapacitor means with said electrical energy; and d. a second set ofterminals interspaced between each of said first set of terminals, saidsecond set of terminals being directly connected to ground, whereby anyresidual energy in said capacitor remaining after the energization of aselected load means will be discharged to ground when said movablecontact engages any of said second set of terminals
 2. In a controlsystem for energizing a single selected load means in a group of loadmeans in response to the receipt of a predetermined number of coins of apredetermined value including means for preventing the energization ofmore than one selected load means in response to the receipt of onlysaid predetermined number of coins the improvement comprising: a.capacitor means for storing an amount of electrical energy substantiallyequal to the energy necessary to energize a single selected load means;b. first selector switch means for selectively discharging saidcapacitor means through said selected load means to thereby energizesaid selected means; c. voltage generating means for supplying saidcapacitor means with said electrical energy; d. coin-operated switchmeans which normally connects said voltage generating means to saidcapacitor means and upon actuation in response to receipt of saidpredetermined number of coins connects said capacitor means to saidfirst selector switch means; and e. means for selectively adjusting theresistance of said selective load means to facilitate the completedischarge of energy stored in said capacitor means by a single selectedload means.
 3. The control system of claim 2 wherein there is furtherprovided start switch means connected in series between said firstselector switch means and said coin-operated switch means.
 4. Thecontrol system of claim 2 wherein said group of load means comprisesstarting coils for a group of automatic laundry machines.
 5. In acontrol system for energizing a single selected load means in a group ofload means in response to the receipt of a predetermined number of coinsof a predetermined value including means for preventing the energizationof more than one selected load means in response to the receipt of onlysaid predetermined number of coins the improvement comprising: a.capacitor means for storing an amount of electrical energy substantiallyequal to the energy necessary to energize a single selected load means;b. first selector switch means for selectively discharging saidcapacitor means through said selected load means, said switch meansincluding a first set of Terminals connected to the respective loadmeans of said group, and movable contact means for selectively engaginga selected one of said terminals in said first set, said contact meansbeing selectively connected in series with said capacitor means; c.voltage generating means for supplying said capacitor means with saidelectrical energy; d. a second set of terminals interspaced between eachof said first set of terminals, said second set of terminals beingdirectly connected to ground, whereby any residual energy in saidcapacitor remaining after the energization of a selected load means willbe discharged to ground when said movable contact engages any of saidsecond set of terminals; and e. coin-operated switch means whichnormally connects said voltage generating means to said capacitor meansand upon actuation in response to receipt of said predetermined numberof coins connects said capacitor means to said first selector switchmeans.
 6. The control system of claim 5 wherein there is furtherprovided start switch means connected in series between said selectorswitch means and said coin-operated switch means.
 7. The control systemof claim 5 wherein said group of load means comprises starting coils fora group of automatic laundry machines.